Paint drying apparatus



Aug. 31, 1954 I v, MARR 2,688,068

PAINT DRYING APPARATUS Filed June 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l H IN Jab MM426 A BY fi ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 J. v. MARR PAINT DRYING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1952 a/v Z 0 W INVENTOR Joy/v 1 MneeATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES an" OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates in general. to paint drying apparatus and deals,more particularly, with an improved construction for an oven, or thelike, for use in drying and baking the paint on newly painted structuressuch as automotive vehicles, relatively large cabinets, and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved, highlysimplified construction for such a paint drying and baking oven in whichthe frame of the oven is composed of a series of spaced, invertedsubstantially U-shaped support ing bows or" generally channel-shapedcross section which are so arranged in the completedv apparatus as toserve the multiple purposes of means for securing the outer casing orcovering of the oven, means for mounting the drying lamps of the oven inthe interior thereof, and as conduits containing and concealing the electrical wires leading to said drying lamps of the oven.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a paint drying andbaiting oven which is supported on individually mounted wheels thatpermit ready movement of the oven to various locations in a paintingshop, and further, with said individual mountings for the wheelsadjustable to different heights for the application and use of theapparatus with structures of various sizes in drying and baking newlypainted sur faces thereon.

Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in theconstruction, arrange ment and general combination of parts of theinvention will be readily apparent as the follo ing description proceedswith reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes ofillustration but not of limitation, in which like reference charactersdesignate like parts throughout, and in which:

i is a perspective view of an end and side of a paint dryig and ballingoven in accordance with the invention, the other end and side beingsimilar in construction and arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, shows the mounting of the lamp units in theinterior oi the apparatus t gether with t e eleetrical wires leadingthereto as contained in and concealed in the channel-shaped bows formingthe fram of the apparatus, and with said bows also serving as the meansfor securing the outer casing or covering on the exterior of the apparatus; and,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-5 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and shows the construction providing foradjustability of the individual mountings of the supportins wheels ofthe apparatus.

Rere now, more particularly, to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates thegeneral construction of the improved paint drying and baking oven of theinvention, designated generally A, in which the frame of the oven isprovided by a series of inverted generally U-shaped bows H) which extendt :sely of the oven in spaced relation longitudinally thereof. As bestseen in Fig. 2,

inverted U-shaped bows Ill have a substantially ehannel-shaped crosssection comprising a fiat crown portion 5 5 intermediate a pair of sideportions 82 provided with outwardly extending nge portions E3, Theinverted U-shaped bows is preferably are provided in continuous onepiecelengths but, if desired, may be made up or" c -annel-shaped sectionswhich are welded, d or otherwise suitably secured together to asubstantially similar frame member the form or inverted U-shaped bow ID.A longitudinal rail is provided at each side or" franc and secured tothe lower ends of the spac. inverted U-shaped bows 16 by welding,riveting or other suitable securing means. Preferably the rail i5 isprovided by an L-shaped angle iron having one flange in abuttingrelation with the iower ends of the bows IE and the other flange bearingagainst the inner surfaces of said bows it adjacent the ends thereof andwelded or other e secured thereto.

A reiniorcing rod 2i: in the form of a pipe, or the like, is provided.at each end of the frame in association with the outermost inverted U-shaped how it. P rably said rod 20 is provided in a length of pipehaving an inverted U- corresponding to that of the associated bow suethat it fits snugly against the side portion 32, g. of said bow and issecured thereto at spaced points along its length by welding 2!, 3, orother suitable securing means. [is ilustrated Fig. l, the rod 29, asthus secured to the side portion 52 of the outermost bow It, extendsupwardly along the sides of the oven and across the top the eoi' in amanner to rigidiiy the ends of th frame and provide a firm and rigidsupport for the roof of the oven.

The reinforcing rods 2%; at each end of the accordingly, define an endsection of pipe .Cl corner of the frame which is admirably SiiltECl formounting a wheel W at each lower corner of the oven. As shown in Fig. 3,the attachment of the wheels W preferably is provided. by individualmountings which are adjustable vertically as necessary to raise or lowerthe oven for us in drying the paint on newly painted vehicles and otherstructures of different sizes, in the most eifective manner.

The wheels W are provided with any suitable type of yoke 38, or thelike, for supporting a vertical post 32, Fig. 3, which fits snugly intelescoping relation within the end section of pipe 23 at each lowercorner of the oven. The vertical post 32, Fig. 3, preferably is providedin a length of pipe for lightness in weight and is formed with atransverse hole 36 for receiving a removable retaining pin such as abolt 36 which preferably is positively locked in position by a nut 37,cotter pin or other locking means.

The pipe end 23 receiving the vertical post 32 is provided with a seriesof transverse holes 25 at different levels on said pipe end 23. Thetransverse hole 343 in the vertical post 32 is readily aligned with anyselected one of the holes 25 in the pipe end 23 depending on the heightto which the oven is to be adjusted. In the illustration of Fig. 3, itwill be understood that the pipe end 23 is supported on the post 32 inthe lowermost position of adjustment of the frame of the oven. To raisethe oven to a higher position of adjustment, the nut 371 is removed andthe bolt 36 Withdrawn whereupon the pipe end 23 may be raised relativelyto the vertical post 32 until the hole 34 in said post 32 is alignedwith the selected one of the lower holes 25 in said 1 pipe end 23depending on the height desired. The belt 36 is then pased through thealigned holes 25, M, respectively, to retain the post 32 in suchadjusted position in the pipe end 23; the bolt 36 is preferably lockedin such applied position by the nut 37! or a cotter pin or other lockingdevice.

With the frame of the oven provided substantially as described, theheating and drying means of the oven are provided by a suitable numberof lamp units 40 which are mounted in the interior of the oven in ahighly simplified and low cost arrangement utilizing the inner surfacesor crown portions M of the inverted Ushaped bows H3, substantially asshown in Fig. 1. The lamp units at are mounted at predetermined spacedpoints along the sides and tops of the bows Hi, and at each of suchpoints, the intermediate crown portion ll of a bow ill is provided witha suitable aperture ll, Fig. in which a lamp unit 10 is individuallymounted.

The lamp units 49, Fig. 2, are of a simple, inexpensive charactercomprising preferably an infra-red electric lamp i3 and a polishedreflector Mi of aluminum, or the like. The lamp 43 and reflector 44 arecarried in a conventional manner by an electrical lamp socket housing d5having a flange it which bears on the forward face of the crown portionll of the channelshaped bow l8 adjacent the aperture ii. Said housing 45is secured in such mounted position by a complementary rearward matingmember 31 provided with a flange d8 that bears on the rearward face ofsaid crown portion H and has a threaded or other connection with saidsocket housing d5 through said aperture 41 in said crown portion ll,thereby maintaining the complete lamp unit if? in fixed and rigidmounted position on the bow ID.

The member 47 of the electrical socket is provided with the usualelectrical wires ts leading to the lamp 53 carried by the socket housingas and these wires A9 are completely contained in and concealed withinthe channel-shaped formation of the bows Ill between the sides l2 andthe crown portion H thereof. The relatively simple arrangement of thechannel-shaped bows l0, otherwise, is such that the wires 59 to all lampunits 40 are readily provided in a simple wiring circuit which iscompletely shielded within said channel-shaped bows l0.

The bows ii] of the frame also serve to support the cover or casing ofthe oven in the form of a skin composed of thin sheet metal panels 50secured to the flange portions is of the channel-shaped bows If as seenin Figs. 1 and 2. The cover or casing 5G is most effectively provided bysheets of aluminum which are relatively light inweight and have a highdegree of reflection that advantageously confines within the oven thecombined heat produced by the lamp units All of the apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 2, the aluminum panels 58 forming the cover or casingof the oven, preferably are secured to the flange portions E3 of theinverted U-shaped bows I!) together with an intermediate layer ofinsulation 5|. The fastening means may be of any suitable character suchas self-tapping screws 53 which are driven through aligned openings inthe panel 55] and insulation El and secured in thread openings in theflange portions E3 of said channel-shaped bows Hi. The panels 50, asthus secured to the bows ll], necessarily reinforce and rigidiiy saidbows iii in the overall frame structure and provide a completed ovenconstruction which is light in weight, and strong, durable and reliable,and capable of withstanding constant usage and handling over a longperiod of service.

With the cover or casing 50 thus mounted in the completed oven, it willbe appreciated that all electrical Wires 49, Fig. 2, to all lamp unitsflit are completely concealed in said channel shaped bows it between thecrown portion II and side portions I2 of said bows and the layer ofinsulation 5! backed by the cover or casing 5i? of the oven.Consequently, there are no exposed electrical wires whatsoever in thecompleted oven construction and this arrangement, of course, protectsthe electrical wires against damage and provides for maximum safetyagainst accidental fire due to a short circuit, for example.

The paint drying and baking oven of the invention has been foundparticularly advantageous in that an excellent heat output is assuredunder all conditions by reason of the highly efiicient arrangement ofthe lamp units All with the outer casing or covering 50 composed of thehighly reflective sheets of aluminum which serve as a large, full sizereflecting surface for the heat produced by the lamp units 50.

A further advantage resides in the simplicity of construction of thepresent invention which makes possible the manufacture of a highlypractical type of paint drying and baking oven at relatively low cost,and which, otherwise, is so light in weight as to be readily movable bya single operator to various locations in a paint shop for "use ondifferent structures in the process of being painted. This, of course,is highly important in a small size paint shop where space is limitedand the most eficient procedure is to move the oven around the shop todry the paint on one structure while another is being painted, andsimilarly, in the application of successive coats of paint to severalstructures being painted at the same time.

In this regard, the present invention is particularly advantageous inthe painting and repainting of automotive vehicles, especially in asmall size paint shop, where it is impractical to move the vehicles tothe location of a permanently installed paint drying oven due to thefact that movement of the vehicle, particularly by operation of theengine, stirs up dust which impairs and mars the finish of the newlyapplied paint on the vehicle.

It will be appreciated that a most important advantage resides in thefact that the paint drying and baking oven of the invention is admirablysuited for economical quantity production at relatively low cost byreason of the highly simplified, unitary, all-welded frame structureprovided by the series of spaced, inverted, substantially U-shapedsupporting bows In of generally channel-shaped cross section which servethe multiple purposes of the means for securing the panels 50 definingthe exterior casing or covering of the oven, the means mounting the lampunits 40 in the interior of the oven, and, as the conduits safelycontaining and protecting the electrical wires 49 leading to said lampunits 40 of the oven.

While the invention has been described in detail with a specificexample, such example is intended as an illustration only, inasmuch asit will be readily apparent that other modifications in theconstruction, arrangement and general combination of parts thereof maybe devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by aseries of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spacedlongitudinally of the structure, said inverted U- shaped bows having agenerally channel-shaped formation comprising a crown portion at theinterior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardlyextending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure,panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing saidpanels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mountedat spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length ofsaid bows at the interior of said structure, and electrical conductorsconnected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of saidbows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by aseries of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spacedlongitudinally of the structure, said inverted U- shaped bows having agenerally channel-shaped formation comprising a crown portion at theinterior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardlyextending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure,panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing saidpanels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mountedat spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length ofsaid bows at the interior of said structure, electrical conductorsconnected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of saidbows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows, andreinforcing means secured to the outermost bows of said frame comprisingvertically extending rods at the sides of said structure definingsupports for said structure.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a frame provided by aseries of inverted U- shaped bows extending transversely and spacedlongitudinally of the structure, said inverted U-shaped bows having agenerally channelshaped formation comprising a crown portion at theinterior of the structure and side portions merging into outwardlyextending flange portions adjacent the exterior of said structure,panels forming the cover of said structure, means for securing saidpanels directly to said flange portions of said bows, lamp units mountedat spaced points on said crown portions of said bows along the length ofsaid bows at the interior of said structure, electrical conductorsconnected to said lamp units and positioned within the channels of saidbows between said panels and said crown portions of said bows,reinforcing means secured to the outermost bows of said frame comprisingvertically extending rods at the sides of said structure, posts havingtheir upper ends adjustably connected to the lower ends of said rods,and wheels connected to the lower ends of said posts and supporting saidstructure for movement on said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,405,631 Attwood Aug. 13, 1946 2,497,676 Lashells Feb. 14,1950 2,521,232 Lashells Sept. 5, 1950 2,559,249 Hudson July 3, 19512,600,294 Henry June 10, 1952 GTHER REFERENCES Conserve for Victory withNear Infra-Red,

The Fostoria Pressed Steel Corp., Fostoria, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1943, 12pages, page 4 relied upon. (Copy in Div. 60.)

Nalco Dritherm Infra-Red Ray Carbon Lamps, Drying Problems Made EasyWith Radiant Energy, North American Electric Lamp 00., 1014 Tyler St.,St. Louis, Mo., October 25, 1943, 8 pages, page 8, relied upon. (Copy inDiv. 60.)

